The role of elder is arguably the church's most thankless job. From putting out fires and dealing with disgruntled members to teaching new Christians and encouraging the weak, all while being a model disciple, an elder's role can seem exhausting and unrelenting. To survive, elders need a place of spiritual solitude and relief where they can draw closer to the Chief Shepherd and have their soul...
Between Malachi and Matthew is a span of at least 400 years. When we arrive at the Gospels, we read of Pharisees, Romans, and synagogues, none of which were present in the Old Testament. The Intertestamental Period is one of the best commentaries on the first-century Jewish climate. The sects, institutions, and divisions of Judaism—not to mention the rejection of Jesus as Messiah—is given...
Told too often about what they can't do, many Christian women wonder what they can do. In both the Old and New Testaments, Scripture notes the many marvelous works performed by women in service and praise to God without going beyond the biblical restrictions placed upon them. In BEING PHOEBE, Steven Hunter offers an encouraging word to all sisters in Christ. In this 13-lesson study, he embarks...
You never dreamed it would be like this... You knew people would be critical. You knew about the unfair expectations and emotional strain. You knew being the wife of a minister would be tough. But you never dreamed it would be like this. In Girl, We Need to Talk, ten ministers' wives offer words of hope and help, not to mention a shoulder to cry on. Whether it's living in the proverbial fish...
In FIT FOR THE PULPIT, a host of preachers dispense comfort and counsel to their brethren in the trenches, men who often work in ministerial isolation as they seek to build up the body of Christ.
Genesis is a book of beginnings. It introduces us to several biblical themes, including God's authorship of life. In a world that blames the Creator for disasters and credits luck or karma for life's blessings, God's people need reminding that he is crafting a wondrous story of redemption and grace. Within Genesis, we are called to play the part of faithful children so that we might overcome...
Genesis is a book of beginnings. It introduces us to several biblical themes, including God's authorship of life. In a world that blames the Creator for disasters and credits luck or karma for life's blessings, God's people need reminding that he is crafting a wondrous story of redemption and grace. Within Genesis, we are called to play the part of faithful children so that we might overcome...
Out of the immense moral darkness of the Judges period comes a story of romance, redemption, and hope. The tale of Ruth has inspired countless generations. But Ruth isn't the star in this romantic drama; center stage belongs to God and his providence. Naomi and Ruth endured famine, grief, and loss, all the while unaware that the Lord had gone before them to redeem their heartache. RUTH FROM...
You preach… But you probably wish you could be better. How many Sunday nights have you sat and wished you were a better preacher? How many Friday afternoons have you spent wishing you had crafted a better message for Sunday? You know you'll never be the best preacher in the church, but you sure wish you could be better. You attend seminars, lectureships, conferences, workshops, and summits. You...
Daniel and the Lions' Den go together like Noah and the Ark, David and Goliath, and peanut butter and jelly. Other stories from this book are just as famous: Nebuchadnezzar's dreams, the Fiery Furnace, and the mysterious handwriting on the wall. But these popular tales in Daniel are somewhat overshadowed by the enigmatic visions in the second half of the book. What do they mean? How are they...
1 KINGS FROM START2FINISH is a 12-lesson adventure through this Old Testament book and will help Bible classes or small groups heed the warning of Kings, that nothing is more important than submission to the King of kings.
Judah & the Walls of Jericho is the story of Israel's First conquest in the Promised Land, told from the perspective of a little Israelite boy. This book features fun sounds and full-color illustrations. More importantly, the story highlights the importance of faith in the lives of God's children.
THE EPIC OF GOD will guide you passage-by-passage through the book of Genesis in hopes of deepening your trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
"We live in a grief illiterate society." Truer words were never spoken. Grief is more than unpleasant; it's messy. Grief is more than foreign; it's counter-intuitive. Grief is more than probable; it's inevitable. Do you know what the Bible has to say about grief? Have you prepared yourself to grieve, and to do so well when your time comes? Life in the Shadow of Death will educate you on grief...
THE DERISION OF HEAVEN is an urgent message for the exiled church. As you journey through the story and visions of Daniel, you will be awe-struck by the sovereign rule of God, emboldened to live a life that glorifies him, and encouraged to serve in the eternal Kingdom of Heaven.
If you've been living with a broken heart—if bitterness and disappointment have been your travel companions on life's road, then Ruth's story in BETHLEHEM ROAD will inspire and strengthen you for the journey ahead. More than that, it will bring you to your knees in worship of your Redeemer and King.
In a world where political power, cultural relevance, and self-sufficiency seduce the church at every turn, 1–2 Kings reverberates with the warning that nothing is more important than submission to the King of kings. Obedience brings life and abundant blessing... rebellion only breeds death, destruction, and suffering. This is the story of HOW TO LOSE A KINGDOM IN 400 YEARS.
The Christian Life can have as many heartbreaks as hallelujahs. Circumstances confuse us. Sin frustrates us. The devil likes to inflict pain on God's children. Wouldn't it be great if we could go to heaven as soon as we become Christians and skip the confusion, frustration, and pain? Sadly, it doesn't work like that; we have to learn to overcome this world while awaiting the Second Coming. In...
The Book of Jonah tends to be hijacked by a certain marine mammal. But this story has more to do with grace and the gospel than with a giant fish. What if we have been too hard on Jonah? If God asked us to evangelize Middle Eastern terrorists, we might want to go to the other side of the world as well.
Discover the horror of God's international kegger-of-wrath tour. The book of Obadiah may be among the most neglected in the Old Testament. It is a message of divine judgment against Israel's cousins, the Edomites. Descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, the Edomites taunted Israel and celebrated her destruction at the hands of the Babylonians in 586 BC. In response to such arrogance and hatred, a...